Akshay, Chunky have funny takes on ‘Udta Punjab’ controversy

Mumbai: ‘Housefull 3’ actors Akshay Kumar and Chunky Pandey lightened the atmosphere related to the controversy surrounding the film ‘Udta Punjab’ and its issues with the censor board.

At a press conference on the success of the film ‘Housefull 3’, the cast was asked about the controversy surrounding ‘Udta Punjab’.

Akshay deflected the question saying: “I want Chunky Pandey sahab to give the answer to this question. His first film ‘Aag Hi Aag’ was made by Pahlaj ji (Nihalani).”

Pahlaj Nihalani is the chief of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) who is currently in the storm for suggesting numerous cuts to ‘Udta Punjab’.

Chunky then said: “Pahlaj ji is my godfather in the film industry and he gave me birth in the film industry. Nowadays, numerous people call me related to him, I’m very proud of him.”

“As far as ‘Udta Punjab’ is concerned, I haven’t seen the film but ‘udte toh tote hain, Punjab kaha se udta hai’ (It’s the parrots that fly, not Punjab). But I don’t know; I can’t tell anything about him,” he added.

Akshay said: “I don’t know when the film is releasing. Do you know when it is releasing?”

On being told that the film, due to release on 17 June, could be delayed, Akshay quipped: “If it gets pushed ahead, so it will be beneficial to us (Housefull 3).”

Chunky added: “Really I have done a ‘setting’ with Pahlaj ji to delay the film.”

Moreover, when one half of the director duo Sajid-Farhad, Farhad Samji rapped a song from the film with the words ‘Maa Behan’, Chunky again quipped, “I hope Pahlaj ji is not listening to this.”

‘Housefull 3’ has earned around Rs. 68 crores at the box-office in the first five days of its release.